Thief steals thousands of dollars of equipment from Reading firetruck

The vehicle was scheduled to carry Santa Claus in the city's holiday parade on Saturday.

Written by Reading Eagle

Reading, PA —

A thief got away with thousands of dollars of equipment from a Reading Fire Department firetruck over the weekend, according to city officials.

Someone broke into Wensel's Service Center of Reading at 1625 N. Fifth St., where the firetruck was awaiting repairs, over the weekend and took several items off the truck, Fire Chief William I. Stoudt Jr., said.

"They only just realized this," Stoudt said Tuesday in a phone interview along with Mayor Wally Scott. "They took somewhere between $5,000 and $10,000."

The thief took power saws, spotlights, axes and other items, Stoudt said.

The truck, a 75-foot 2004 American LaFrance tower ladder, was at the service center for about a week for axle repairs, Stoudt said.

"Police are investigating, and we are still assembling a list of equipment missing," Stoudt said.

Investigators with the Reading Police Department did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday afternoon.

Scott said one of the sadder aspects of the theft is that it happened on the truck that was slated to carry Santa Claus through town during the annual holiday parade Saturday morning.